But reaching the 2,000GW that the Global Wind Energy Outlook claims is possible would require "unambiguous commitment to renewable energy in line with industry recommendations... [and] the political will to commit to appropriate policies".
However, the report claims that reaching this "advanced scenario" is still well within the capacity of the wind industry that exists today.
Under the scenario where the current trajectory is maintained, 960GW is predicted to be installed by 2030, while the so called moderate scenario – which the report highlights as the most likely outcome - would see 1,500GW installed.
This would result in Western Europe, the US and China's share of the market shrinking as emerging markets come into their own. Africa would see the greatest growth under the moderate scenario, with installed capacity increasing to 75GW, 63 times its current figure of 1.2GW.
Latin America is predicted to add 78GW by 2030. Even established markets are shown making significant strides forward, with North America, Europe and China all approximately tripling their installed capacity.
If current policies are maintained, the number of people employed in the industry would peak at 780,000 jobs in 2016, and drop towards 700,000 jobs by 2030.But a different picture emerges under the moderate scenario, with employment levels rising to over 824,000 by 2015, 11 million by 2020, and to 15 million by 2030.
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